---
name: corporate
title: Corporate Practice
description: Advises on corporate law matters including entity formation, governance, finance, M&A, securities, venture capital, non-profits, and dissolution. Use when drafting governance documents, structuring transactions, selecting entity types, or navigating fiduciary duties and corporate formalities.
author: CaseMark
author_url: https://github.com/CaseMark/skills/tree/main/skills/legal/corporate
license: Apache-2.0
version: 0.1.0
execution_mode: open
jurisdiction: us
practice: corporate
language: en
---

# Corporate Practice

Root skill for all corporate legal matters — entity formation through dissolution. Establishes fiduciary duties, corporate formalities, and stakeholder-balance principles that apply across every sub-area.

## Sub-Areas

| Sub-Area | Scope |
|---|---|
| Formation | Entity selection, articles, bylaws, initial capitalization |
| Governance | Board duties, minutes, resolutions, officer authority |
| Finance | Equity/debt structures, dividends, cap tables |
| Securities | Registered offerings, exemptions, disclosure obligations |
| M&A | Asset/stock deals, due diligence, closing mechanics |
| VC & PE | Preferred equity, term sheets, investor rights |
| Non-Profits | 501(c) formation, governance, charitable compliance |
| Dissolution | Wind-down, asset distribution, regulatory filings |

## Quick Start

1. Confirm jurisdiction of formation — state law governs internal affairs
2. Identify entity type (C-corp, S-corp, LLC, PBC, non-profit) and match to tax, governance, and financing goals
3. Flag fiduciary duty issues (care + loyalty) and any conflicts of interest
4. Check whether securities law (federal + blue sky) applies to the transaction

## Core Principles

- **Fiduciary duties** — Care and loyalty govern all board/officer conduct; surface conflicts early
- **Corporate formalities** — Minutes, resolutions, and records preserve liability protection
- **Entity selection** — Structure must align with tax, governance, and financing objectives
- **Stakeholder balance** — Obligations differ by entity type: shareholders, creditors, employees, beneficiaries
- **Risk management** — Flag indemnification gaps, D&O exposure, and regulatory triggers at each stage

## Pitfalls

- Delaware defaults apply to most venture-backed C-corps — note divergences when client formed elsewhere
- Securities law intersects nearly every financing transaction — flag early, not after closing
- Non-profits require separate analysis: no equity, restricted assets, IRS compliance layer
- Missing corporate formalities (e.g., skipped annual minutes) can pierce the liability veil